Bible Society announce Suchet and Gooder as new VPs

Bible Society is delighted to announce the appointment of two new vice-presidents: David Suchet and Dr Paula Gooder.

David Suchet CBE is known for his work on British television, including several award-winning performances and the long-running role of Agatha Christie's Poirot.

He is also known for his Christian faith. In 2012, he made a documentary of the missionary journeys of St Paul. In an interview with Strand magazine, he explained: 'I’m a Christian by faith. I like to think it sees me through a great deal of my life. I very much believe in the principles of Christianity and the principles of most religions, actually — that one has to abandon oneself to a higher good.'

In a letter to Bible Society, he said he felt 'most honoured' to accept the role of Vice President.

Dr Paula Gooder is a writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies. She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham and Guildford Cathedrals, Lay Canon at Salisbury Cathedral, Visiting lecturer at King's College, London, Associate lecturer at St Mellitus College, London, and has been Bible Society's Theological Adviser since 2010.

An accomplished theologian, specialising in New Testament interpretation and the writings of Paul, Dr Gooder is also known for her ability to express complex concepts in an accessible way. Talking to Bible Society about rediscovering passion for Scripture, she said 'For me, the Bible is a collection of different expressions of God. They are God's words speaking to us. And they speak in all sorts of different ways. So you've got fabulous stories and you've got poetry and you've got bits of law and you've got history and you've got letters – and it's almost as though it is the variety that helps you get into the Bible...I think we need to treat it a little bit more like an adventure, so we get into the Bible and say 'where is the Bible going to take us today?''

Mr Suchet and Dr Gooder join Archbishop John Sentamu, the Most Revd Vincent Nichols the Archbishop of Westminster, Archbishop of Wales Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Professor David Ford, Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, The International Director for Micah Challenge Revd Joel Edwards and Lord Alton of Liverpool who already serve as Vice-Presidents to Bible Society.

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